The Arkansas Department of Transportation announced it has received a $43.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Bridge Investment Program for rehabilitation of the U.S. 49 Mississippi River Bridge between Helena-West Helena and Lula, Mississippi.
This project is a joint effort between ARDOT, the lead grant applicant, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation, a co-applicant. The project’s total estimated cost is $56.6 million. After applying the grant funding, Arkansas and Mississippi will split the remaining cost evenly.
In a news release, ARDOT said the Helena Bridge is a critical Mississippi River crossing of local, national and international importance. This crossing is nearly one mile long and is currently rated as being in “poor” condition.
The rehabilitation project includes structural and general repairs to bring the bridge into a state of good repair. The project also will increase the load rating of the bridge and give it a service life of 20 to 25 years, according to the release.
That extended service life would allow the Arkansas and Mississippi transportation departments to monitor existing regional transportation needs and plan for future capacity needs, paving the way for a new Mississippi River crossing that would respond to the unique conditions of the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
The project’s next steps include working on project design and construction plans.
“It’s critical that we care for our existing infrastructure, make the necessary upgrades, and ultimately extend the lifespan of a road or bridge when possible, to the benefit of the traveling public,” ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor said in a statement. Thank you to the USDOT for recognizing the significance of this project and choosing to invest in this critical link between Arkansas and Mississippi.”
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